Hotel & Tourism SMARTreport #41

INNOVATIONS & TECHNOLOGIES
What about robotics?
Hoteliers are definitely looking at robotics.
There have been a few initiatives already. One
of the main barriers to adoption has been
investment, so it’s going to take some time
before robots become mainstream, but it’s
definitely going to happen.
New generation Samsung display
technologies were unveiled at CES. How
will these roll-out into the hospitality
sector?
The high-end hotels are very keen to bring
new, spectacular screens to their rooms and
public areas. We are working on this, and
again, Hitec will be the launch-pad for our
new generation products. I can say that QLED
is coming into this space this year during
Hitec.
MicroLED created a splash in Vegas. How
is this panning out to hotels?
It’s a fantastic product. We have had inquiries
from some of the top hospitality companies.
MicroLED is still a very new technology and it
comes with a high price tag. We are seeing
hoteliers and casinos very keen to have an LED
wall in their larger suites. We are rolling-out
fine pitch (1.2mm) - 130-inch LED displays to
some selected properties, and MicroLED will
become very interesting in the next couple of
years.
From the sound of things, Samsung is
really “pushing” into the AI sphere…
Very much so. Samsung has opened
specialised R&D centres around the world
to strengthen our AI capabilities and explore
the potential of user-centric AI. By securing
global AI experts, Samsung Research plans to
expand its number of advanced AI researchers
to a total of about 1,000 globally by 2020. We
currently have centres operating near Seoul,
along with Cambridge, Moscow, Silicon
Valley, Toronto, Montreal and New York
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS
EXPANDS AI RESEARCH
PRESENCE IN NORTH AMERICA,
OPENING ANOTHER AI CENTRE
IN MONTREAL
In October 2018, Samsung Electronics announced that it was
establishing another artificial intelligence (AI) centre in Montreal, the
second biggest city in Canada and home to one of the world’s fastest
growing AI communities.
The announcement complemented earlier news of multiple AI centres
launched in North America and continued Samsung’s efforts in AI that
include the development of Samsung’s virtual assistant, Bixby. The centre
was the fourth Samsung AI Centre to be established in North America
following the centres launched in Silicon Valley, New York and Toronto.
“By leveraging the power of AI in Samsung’s products and services, we
must focus on creating new values, never seen nor experienced before,”
said Seunghwan Cho. “To do this, seven Global AI Centres, including the
Montreal AI Centre, will play a pivotal role.”
During the event, Samsung presented its future vision for AI as it aims
to develop a highly personalized multi-device platform that empowers
people to accomplish more in their lives. By providing multiple
touchpoints where a user can interact with AI, not only through voice,
Samsung’s multi-modal interaction platform (voice, vision, screen, touch)
will make experiences more relevant and personal in the future.
“One key element that will move AI to being more widely adopted
is multi-device systems—i.e., a variety of AI-enabled devices that
communicate seamlessly with each other,” said Dr. Heck. “Samsung is
uniquely positioned to be a leader in this regard. It’s not just how each
device uses AI, it’s how they use it together”
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